• Hello Guest, welcome to the initial stages of our new platform!
    You can find some additional information about where we are in the process of migrating the board and setting up our new software here

    Thank you for being a part of our community!

M41 clutch pivot ball washer(s)?

svinkle

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Location
Portland, OR
The bolt holding the clutch pivot ball on my M41 fell out (one of many loose bolts I found not long after buying the car). I took the opportunity to put in a new clutch, throwout bearing, and pilot bearing, and resurfaced the flywheel. The pivot bolt was actually hanging on to the bell housing, so I reused it. Clutch kit is regular Sachs from ipd.

With everything put back together, I'm running into clutch adjustment problems and am beginning to wonder if I should have had a washer(s) under the pivot ball. Clutch is engaging right off the bottom of the pedal travel, and cable is at the end of the adjuster with no free play (should have 1/4"?).

I've read lots of threads about this with non-volvo swaps, and recently saw hiperfauto recommend a shim in this thread about a M40. That's the only reference I can find for m40/41. Parts diagram shows a washer, but I'm pretty sure mine was long gone and I didn't know better.

So, is there a standard washer thickness, or do I need to measure my flywheel thickness and do some math to dial it in? I'd like to be prepared before dropping the trans again and I'd like to do it right the first time.

Thanks y'all.
 
Well that explains it! You're the man, as always :cheers:

I suppose that implies that I have a pretty old clutch arm, if it has the shorter pivot? And if I had replaced it, a new arm would have come with the longer pivot? I don't remember the ball/socket being in terrible shape (It's been a while since I did the clutch job, but I do remember that it wasn't in 100% perfect shape), but this may just be a sign that I should've replaced it anyway.

Do you have any opinions about the MTC clutch arm vs OEM?
 
Indeed I do. I tried installing one and had geometry problems. When I compared it to an OE Volvo arm, the pins for the T/O bearing were in a different location. The one I had problems with had SAMEER stamped into it like this one from IPD.

fullsize_29189.jpg
 
Well there ya go. I'll take a good hard look at the one I currently have, and if it's not ok, I won't replace it with one of those.
 
Pulled the transmission today, and took a few photos.

It has the shorter pivot ball but is obviously silver not gold like the OE arm. Is is just an ancient aftermarket part? Or were OE volvo arms ever silver?

I am NOT looking for an excuse to buy a new arm, mainly just hoping for encouragement to slap a washer in there and give this one another go.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vtslickster/42731406312/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0870"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1746/42731406312_94be801257_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0870"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vtslickster/42731409292/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0871"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/895/42731409292_fc3a3af269_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0871"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vtslickster/42731415502/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_0872"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1721/42731415502_e9b3b5882d_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0872"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
What I did way back when I redid my T5 swap (with a Saab 9000 clutch and a JVAB sooper bitchin flywheel) was take the bellhousing off and mock up the clutch arm spacing without wrestling the trans on and off. Just set the bellhousing on the block, snug a couple of bolts, then see where the T/O bearing contacted the pressure plate (where the arm was in its window).

When that looked good, I installed the trans too.
 
Wow, that's an old clutch fork. It doesn't look bent but they were updated long ago to make them stronger by adding a lip to one edge. Those old style arms were replaced on sight back in the day. Chances are a new design fork will have the updated ball spacing.
 
Wow, that's an old clutch fork. It doesn't look bent but they were updated long ago to make them stronger by adding a lip to one edge. Those old style arms were replaced on sight back in the day. Chances are a new design fork will have the updated ball spacing.

Dang it! Not the answer I was hoping for. The only smart option would be to get a new oe arm, huh?
 
What I did way back when I redid my T5 swap (with a Saab 9000 clutch and a JVAB sooper bitchin flywheel) was take the bellhousing off and mock up the clutch arm spacing without wrestling the trans on and off. Just set the bellhousing on the block, snug a couple of bolts, then see where the T/O bearing contacted the pressure plate (where the arm was in its window).

When that looked good, I installed the trans too.

Sounds like a good practice. I too would like this to be the last transmission install for me for a while.
 
Back
Top